Transgender Athlete Makes Historic Debut at the Paralympic Games

Italian athlete Valentina Petrillo has made history as the first transgender competitor at the Paralympic Games. The 50-year-old runner debuted today at the Paralympics in Paris.

Petrillo advanced to the semifinals in the 400 meters for visually impaired athletes (T12 category), posting a qualifying time of 58.35 seconds, which placed her sixth. Russian athlete Anna Kulinich-Sorokina secured her spot in the semifinals with a time of 57.26 seconds, finishing in fourth.

The semifinals are scheduled for Monday evening, with the final set to take place on Tuesday.